Heating apparatus



Dec. 12, 1933. SUPPES 1,939,602

'H'EATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 12, 193 3. M M s Es 1,939,602

HEATING APPARATUS Filed. Feb. 4, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 2 H ll Dec, 12, 1933. M M, SUPPES 1,939,602

H EATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 or position from top to Patented Dec. 12, 1933 1,939,802 HEATING APPARATUS Max M. Suppes, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to The Fox Furnace Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 4,

13 Claims.

My invention relates new and useful improvements in heating ticularly apparatus, and more parto an air heater or furnace such, for example'as is employed for heating a room or rooms in a dwelling or other building.

An object of my invention is to provide a heating apparatus for heating air, in which the transfer of heat from the heating medium to the air is accomplished with a minimum loss of heat. Another object is to provide a heater unit or el is repeatedly carried ducting relation to the a very high percentage ,medium is taken up by the Another object is to larly adapted for use ement in which the flow of the heating medium into intimate heat conwalls of the unit, whereby ofthe heat of the heating walls. provide a furnace particu- With fiuidfuel.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combin aggroupment in operative relation, to be more fully described herein which will be particul tinctly claimed.

ation of parts and their after, and the novelty of arly pointed out and'dis- In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which dra Figure 1 is a view in wingsperspective of a furnace embodying my invention, and having a portion of the jacket'and cert away to more clearly Fig. 2- is a detail in ain internal parts broken show the construction.

side elevation of a heating unit or element employed in the furnace of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in Fig. 2, showing a c the element;

Fig. 4 is a view in the unit of Fig. 2, bu

section on the line 3-3 of asing member surrounding or end elevation of the front cover or front t with closure member removed.-

Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are detail, top plan views of the baffles or deflecting members employed in the heating Fig. llis a deta 11-11 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 12 is a detail view ing an automatic flow Referring to the unit, in order of their use bottom in the unit;

11 sectional view on the line in vertical section showcontrolling means.

drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates generally a heating apparatus having an enclosing jacket 2 which is preferably substantially The jacket has line.

rectangular in plan outan internal partition or dividing wall 3 which separates the space within the jacket into an inlet chamber or compartment 4 and a heating chamber or compartment 5.

1932. Serial No. 590,809 (Cl. 126-116) and may be provided with a liner 6 to decrease heat loss through the jacket. Behind the front jacket wall is therefr walls about upper edge portion a wall '7 parallel thereto and spaced om, which extends between the side jacket and the upper edge of which terminates at one-third the height of the jacket.

of the wall 7 is joined to the The front jacket wall by a shelf or horizontal partition 8 which, at its ends,

joins. the side jacket walls. In the inlet compartment is a fan means 9, preferably of inlet 10 and an an aperture 12 in outlet 11 the centrifugal type, having an discharging through the lower portion of thepartition 3, the fan casing being sealed at the outlet to the partition rotor is fixed on bearing blocks 1 the side wall of on its external or the like 15. filtering means projecting 16, prefera about the aperture. The fan a shaft 13 journaled in suitable 4, the shaft projecting through the jacket 2 and having fixed end a driving pulley Also in the compartment 4 is a bly comprising rigidly supported downward-diverging hollow screens which may contain treated with oil. between the fan a compressed steel wool filling The screens 16 are positioned means and the air inlet conduit 17 and lit within the chamber 4 so that all the air supplied to the screens. At each sid there are air inlet ports or are automatically controlled means 19 (see Figs. 1 and 1 means 19 are pivotally supporte forwardly and upwardly incline ported in a framework 21 and the fan means must pass through e of the aperture 12 apertures 18 which by door or damper 2). These damper d by a slightly d shaft 20 suppositioned in a vertical plane, so that they normally gravitate 0' toward open position, as

shown, and into the chamber 5. The jacket 2 includes a top closure wall 22 having an outlet for the heated air which discharges through a may be provided with Within the chamber units or elements 25 therefore a description of of them.

Each

conduit 23. The furnace a humidifier 24, if desired. 5 5 are one or more heater which are identical, and

one will suflice for oi the units 25 comprises a hollow casing 26, preferably of iron, and cast or otherwise formed each of whichv comprises and also substantially half and rear end walls, along the tions of which the section as at 27, in a vertical, cent bolts 28 passed through in two complementary lateral sections,

a complete side wall, of the top, bottom marginal edge porare, joined together, ral plane by nuts and oppositely positioned marginal lugs 29 on the respective sections. The

Joining edges of the secti ons, that is, the free no .preferably substantially parallel edges of the top, bottom and rear end wall portions, are preferably ground to insure a tight joint, and in addition, the surfaces may be longitudinally grooved or channeled for the reception of a packing strip of asbestos or the like (see Figs. 3. and 4). The unit is preferably substantially rectangular in side elevation, having upright side walls 31, 32, which merge with the transversely curved, or inwardly concave, top, bottom and rear end walls 33, 34 and 35, respectively. The side walls 3 1, 32 diverge slightly downward from about one-third their height (see Fig.4), to provide a combustion chamber 36 and have substantially in the areas of their divergence, or at the outlet from the combustion chamber, inwardly' projecting heat-absorbing means 37, such as a plurality of spaced rows of spaced, tapered pins or the like, preferably formed integral with the side walls. The pins 37 are preferably also in spaced groups which lie in the internal concave portions of the side walls. The side walls are of zig-zag or serpentine form in horizontal cross-section, (see Fig. 3), and are or equally spaced from each other at all points in any horizontal plane. The unit may also be provided with external heat radiating means 38, as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, such asvertically extending ribs or fins, preferably equally spaced and integrally formed with the side walls at their external crests and in the valleys thereof. of the rear wall 35, such that the top wall 33 merges with the, top portion thereof, is a tubular extension 39 providing an outlet passage or conduit .40 from the interior of the casing, and particularly from the narrow upright flue 41 therein.

Within the casing are a plurality of baifle or flow diverting members which are shown in plan view in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive. Each of the baffle members is supported at its opposite or front and rear ends by trunnions or fingers 42, 43 respectively, which-rest or seat upon supporting members carried by and at the ends of the casing. Projecting forwardly from the rear wall are a plurality of vertically and substantially equally spaced shelves or supporting members 44 having upwardly open recesses 45 extending longitudinally thereinto from their front edges (see Fig. 3), which recesses receive the rear trunnions 43 on the baffles. At the forward vertical edges of the side walls and in the horizontal planes of the members 44, there are oppositely positioned, inwardly directed supporting lugs or members 46. Bridging the space between the side walls there are supporting members 47, such as bars or plates, which rest at their ends upon the lugs 46 and which are provided in their top faces with recesses 48, in which the front trunnions 42 of the baflles are seated. The members 47 may be heldagainst upward movement by lugs 49 which .overlie the lugs 46 and the ends of the members 4'7. The top-most bafiie member is positioned in a plane just below the conduit outlet 40, the three uppermost baffle members being equally spaced from each other, the three lowermost 'baflle members being spaced equidistant from each other, but closer together than the top group, and the spacing between the groups being intermediate the spacing within each group, so that the vertical height of the lower passes 50, 51 is less than the height of the intermediate passage 52, which is in turn less than the height of the top passes 53, 54, all

' as shown in Fig. 4. The top-most bane me At the top ting it to be turned in the opposite direction.

The right-hand side edge of member 55 when facing the unit (Fig. 4), is of zig-zag or serpentine form, as at 5'7, conforming to the inside face of the casing side wall 32 and being closed with the wall to prevent upflow along this edge. Any leakage which might occur is further blocked by a longitudinal lip or rib 5'7 on the inside face of the side wall 32, and which is engaged by the top marginal edge of the member 55. The lefthand or other side edge of member 55 is also zig-zag orserpentine at its rear, as at 58, and conforms to the other side wall 31 for a portion of the length of the baffle member, so as to close off the rear portion of the flue 41 from direct access to the outlet 40. The remaining left-hand. edge portion 58 of the member 55 is also zig-zag,

but is recessed to provide with the casing side wall 31, an upflow passage 59 having channels formed by the inwardly concave portions of the side wall 31, as indicated by the dotted outline of wall 31 in Fig. 5. Projecting from the member 55 is a marginal flange 60 which extends above and below and transversely to the plane of the member along the edge portion 58 for a purpose to be described. The baffle member 61 (Fig. 6) is serrated or zig-zag along both longitudinal side edges, the left-hand side edge 62 conforming to and closing with the inside face of the-side wall 31 which has a lip or rib 63 overlying the member 61 and additionally closing the joint. The other side edge of member 61 conforms generally to the inside face of wall 32, but is spaced therefrom to provide an upflowpassage 64 from end to end of the unit, and has throughout its length a marginal transverse flange 65 which extends above and below the baffle member. The bafile member 66 (Fig. 7) has its side edges serrated or' of zig-zag outline, the right-hand edge 67 conforming to and closing with the side wall 32, a lip or rib 68 on the side wall overlying member 66 and sealing the joint. The other or left-hand side edge 69 of member 66 is spaced from wall 31 and has relatively shallow depressions so that the upflow passage '70 which extends from end to end of the unit has vertical flow channels therein. Along the edge 69 is a marginal flange '71, which extends above and below the member 66 and transverselythereto. The ends of the member 66 are preferably provided with holding lugs '72 which extend beneath and into engagement with the end supporting members 44 and 47. The baflie member 73 (Fig. 8) has both longitudinal side edges of zig-zag outline, the left-hand edge 74 conforming to and closing with the casing side wall 31 to prevent flow therebetween. The joint is further closed by a lip or rib 75 extending from end to end of the unit and projecting inwardly from the wall 31 into engagement with the top face of passage formed between the marginal edge '76 and the wall 32 has communicating but spaced channels 76 therein and extendsfrom end to end of the unit. The member 73 has a'flow are guiding flange '77 which extends along the length of and conforms to the edge 76 and which-pro- A the inlet end of the fuel mixture space which is bolted, as at 84,

jects above and below and transversely to the member 73. At its ends the member 73 has holding lugs 78 which overlie the supporting members 44 and 47, The flanges 60, 65, 71 and 77 cooperate with the casing side walls to provide extended flow passages which act to maintain the heating medium or gaseous products of combustion in intimate heat conducting relation with the side Walls for prolonged periods or lengths of travel and also causes the gases repeatedly to wipe along the side walls. The flanges further act to provide with the side walls I upwardly directed throats so that the gases are discharged upwardly against the undersurface of the next higher baille member which thereby creates a turbulent flow, resulting in highly efficient heat absorption by the casing walls. The two lowermost baille members 79, 80 (Figs. 9 and 10) are substantially alike, each having both longitudinal side edges of substantially zig-zag outline, the edges being in general straight but with curved indentations or serrations 81 which conform substantially to the peaks of the interconvex portions of the side walls, so that upflow of the gases is divided into communicating channels or streams into which the groups of pins 37 project (see Fig. 3). Each ofthe members 79, 80 is preferablyprovided with a holding lug 82 at its forward end, which overlies and rests upon its respective supporting member 47. The members 79 and 80 each have a longitudinal stiffening rib or flange 83, which also aids in directing the flow of the gases. It will be noted that the trunnions '42, 43 are eccentric ,to the longitudinal center lines of the baflle members, and also that the center of weight of the baflle members is not on the .longitudinal axis of the trunnions, so that the battle members normally tend to turn or rotate on their trunnions so as to'rest'in horizontal position. The baflle members are held against rotation or tilting by the end lugs 56, 72, 78 and 82 which respectively engage the supporting members, and by the internal horizontal .side wall ribs which overlie the baiile members. Each of members 61, 66 and 73 has a reinforcing rib 83 similar to rib 56 of member 55. The trunnion support for each of the baffles provides for easy insertion of the baille into the unit and removal therefrom, inasmuch as the baflle may be turned so that its transverse axis lies in an upright plane, and then the battle may be inserted into the unit, the trunnions placed on the end supports and the baiile permitted to rotate to its horizontal position. If a bailie'is to be removed, it can be turned on its trunnions so its side edges clear-the inner faces of theunit and then be free to be withdrawn.

The heater unit 25 is closed tightly at its front end by a plate or cover member 84 for the flue or otherwise removably secured to the casing, and by a cover member 85 for the combustion chamber space, the member 85 being similarly clamped to the casing. The member 85 is apertured to receive pipe or conduit 86 of the burner 87, which preferably extends from front to rear of the casing at the bottom thereof, and of the combustion chamber 36. The bottom casing wall 34 has a centrally positioned secondary air inlet aperture therethrough surrounded by a flange 88 which is sealed to a forwardlyextending air inlet conduit 89 which terminates substantially in the planeof the front casing wall. The inlet to the conduit 89 regthroat.

isters with and is sealed to the periphery of an aperture through wall or partition 7, and receives air through alined apertures 90 in the front jacket wall below the shelf 8, the apertures 90 having grille work inserts to conceal the interior structure. Each of the units is supported above the floor of chamber 5 by end frameworks 91 to which the units may be respectively bolted, or otherwise secured, as at 92. The. partition 7 is apertured to receive the bottom closure members 85 and the marginal portion of partition 7 about these apertures is sealed to the respective units, for example, by clamping the. marginal edges between the/members 85 and their casings. The main burners 87 are supplied with fluid fuel from a pipe line or manifold 93 from which valve controlled feed pipes or tubes 94 connect with the mixture conduits 86. Each burner 87 is provided with a pilot burner (not shown) which is supplied by a fuel feed line 95 having branches 96 tothe separate pilot burners.

The outlet conduit 39 of each unit is sealed to and opens through the partition 3, which at its upper portion defines the rear wall of the heating chamber 5, the conduits 39 having communication with stack or chimney 97; Surrounding each unit is a casing member 98 which is substantially rectangular in plan outline (see Fig. 3), and which is open at its top and bottom to provide an upflow passage around each unit. The casing members 98 are spaced from each other and from the side walls of the jacket 2 to provide secondary upflow passages 99 and also to act as baffles and additional heat radiating surfaces which intercept andabsorb the radiated heat to re-radiate the absorbed heat to the air in the secondary passages,

The operation of my heating apparatus is as follows: The burners 87 having been lighted, secondary air for complete combustion will be supplied through grilled apertures 90 and the conduits 89 to the combustion chambers 36. The hot products of combustion from the burners will be separated by the baflle members 80 and 79 into separate upward moving streams which will flow over the absorbing pins 37 which act further to break up the streams and to conduct the absorbed heat to the casing walls. As the gases reach the passage 51, the gases flowing upward along wall 31 will impinge against the baille member 73 and be caused thereby to swirl about in the passage before joining with the gases flowing upward along wall 32. The combined streams will then pass upward through the spaced channels or throats formed by flange 77 and wall 32 into the passage 52, and be directed against the bafiie member 66'. The flow will now be directed by member 66 across passage 52 or transversely to the upflow path through the The gases will now escape into passage 53 through the throat between flange 71 and wall 31, the throat or passage 70 extending from front to rear of the casing and having spaced but laterally communicating channels therein, so that the full length of the wall is subject to the prolonged wiping action of the hot gases. The bailie member 61 intercepts the flow and directs the swirling, turbulent gases to the throat or passage 64 betwen the wall 32 and the flange 65, so that the gases are again caused to take a path laterally through passage 53 transverse to the general upward path of flow. It will be noted that passage 64 is of substantially serpentine form, the walls of the passage being substantially equally spaced apart throughout portion conforming to one their lengths, so that the gases are caused to wipe the wall 32 throughout its length. The gases emerging from passage 64 strike the underside of baffle member and the rear portion of the upflowing stream is forced forward by reason of the member 55 closing the rear portion of the flue 41 and directed to the throat or passage 59 between flange and the forward portion of wall 31. The closing of the rear portion of flue 41 by member 55 prevents the gases from taking a diagonal upward course in the flue from the combustion chamber 36 to the outlet conduit 40, and requires the gases to have a generally substantially vertical travel. As the gases rise through throat 59, they pass rearwardly between member 55 and the casing top wall to the outlet 40 andthe stack 97.

The heat radiated from the casings 26 will heat the casing members 98 and the air in the heating chamber 5, causing a flow of air from the inlet conduit 1'7 through the chamber 4 and the filters 16 therein, and thence through the apertures controlled by doors 19, into the heating chamber. The air entering the heating chamber will pass upward both within and between the casing members 98 and be heated by radiated heat from the casings and by reradiated heat from the casing members, the heated air passing from the chamber through outlet conduit 23 to the point or points of use such as the rooms or compartments to be heated.

' When the temperature of the units has reached a predetermined desired degree, the fan means 9 maybe started to create a forced draft of air to the heating chamber. When the fan means starts drawing air from chamber 4 andforcing the air into chamber 5, the difference of pressures in the two chambers and the resultant tendency of air to circulate through the door controlled apertures will swing the doors 19 to closed position. The pressure created in chamber 5 by the fan means can now escape only through outlet 23,'and there is a forced delivery of heated air. When the fan means 9 is stopped for any reason, the doors 19 being hung on an inclined axis will automatically gravitate to open position, so that natural draft may again function to supply the heating chamber 5.

It is to be noted that the upflow of gases in the casings 26 is decelerated by the increasing volumetric capacity of the passages 51 to 54 inclusive, and by decreasing cross-sectional areas of the vertical connecting throats, so that the maximum absorption of heat from the gases is attained. The heat absorption is further enhanced by the topmost baflle member 55 which insures an increasedlength of gas travel.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing defining a flue for the passage of a heating medium, said casing having upright substantially zigzag side walls, a 'baiile member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge of said side walls, the opposite edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, and a second baflle member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to the said other side wall, the opposite edge of said second-named member being spaced from said one side wall whereby flow of the heating medium will be through an upward zigzag path defined by the spaced edges of said members.

2. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow margin and being spaced from the other of ing medium,

casing defining a flue for the passage of a heating medium, said casing having upright substantially parallel zigzag side walls, a baflle member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to one of said side walls, theopposite edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, and a second bafile member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to the said other side wall, the opposite edge of said second-named member being spaced from said one side wall whereby flow of the heating medium will be through transverse zigzag paths defined by the spaced edges of said members and by said walls.

3. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing defining a flue for the passage of a heating medium, said casing having upright substantially zigzag side walls, a baflle member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to one of said side walls, the opposite edge of said member having a zigzag said side walls, and a second baflle member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conformingto the said other side wall, the opposite edge of said secondnamed member having a zigzag margin and being spaced from said one side wall whereby flow of the heating medium will be through an upward zigzag path defined by the spaced edges of said members.

4. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing defining a flue for the passage of a heating medium, said casing having upright substantially zigzag side walls, one of said side walls having external heat radiating means, a battle member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to one of said side walls, the opposite edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, and a second baflle member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to the said other side wall, the opposite edge of said second-named member being spaced from said one side wall whereby flow of the heating medium will be through an upward zigzag path defined by the spaced edges of said members.

5. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing defining a flue for the passage of a heatsaid casing having upright substan-'- tially zigzag side walls, one of said side walls having external heat radiating fins, a baflle member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to one of said side walls, the opposite edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, and a second baflle member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to the said-other side wall, the opposite edge of said second-named member'being spaced from said one side wall where by flow of the heating medium will be through an upward zigzag path defined by the spaced edges of said members.

6. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing defining a flue for the passage of a heating medium, said casing having upright substantially zigzag side walls, means in said casing for conducting heat to and carried by one of said walls, a balile member within said casing and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to one of said side walls, the opposite edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, and a second baffle member above said first-named member and having a substantially zigzag edge portion conforming to the said other side wall, the opposite edge of said second-named member being spaced from said one side wall whereby flow of the heating medium will be through an upward zigzag path defined by the spaced edges of said members.

7. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow upright side walls, a supporting member at one end of said casing and positioned between said walls, a supporting member bridging the space between said walls at the other end of said casing, and a bame member within said casing and extending between said supporting members, and means for pivotally supporting said baffle member on said supporting members.

8. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing having upright side walls, a supporting between said walls, a supporting member bridging the space between said walls at the other end of said casing, a baflie member within said casing and extending between said supporting members, and pivot means projecting from said baflie member and resting upon said supporting members to support said baiile member.

9. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing having upright side walls, a supporting ried by said supporting 10. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing having upright side walls, a supporting member at one end of said casing and positioned between said walls, a supporting member bridging the space between saidwalls at the other end of said casing, a battle member within said casing and extending between said supporting members, said baflie member being carried by said supporting members, said baflle member being supported eccentrically of its center of weight whereby said member tends to rotate on said supporting members, and means holding said baflie member against rotation.

11. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing having upright side walls, abaflie member having its opposite side edges spaced from the inside faces of said walls at points spaced longitudinally of said member whereby to provide spaced upflow passages between said member and said walls, a second baiile member positioned above said first-named member and having one side edge conforming to and closed with one'of said walls, the other side edge of said secondnamed member being spaced from the inside face of the other of said walls and a third baflie member positioned above said second-named baiile member and having a side edge conforming to and closed with said other wall, the other side edge of said third-named member being spaced from the inside face of said one wall whereby the flow stream divided by said first-named member is united by said second-named member and the united streams are caused to pass from wiping contact with one wall into wiping contact with the other wall by said third-named member.

12. A heating apparatus comprising a hollow casing having upright side walls, a baflie member within said casing and having one side edge conforming to and closed with one of said walls, the other side edge of said member being spaced from the other of said side walls, supporting means for said bafiie member, said means bridging the space between said walls and closing the spaces between the ends of said baflie members and the ends of said casing, and a flange on said baflie adjacent said other side edge to cause a prolonged wiping contact between the fluid flowing through said casing and said other side wall.

13. A heating apparatus comprising an outer enclosing jacket having a partition therein dividing said jacket internally into a heating chamber and an air inlet chamber, said partition having an aperture therethrough in its lower portion, a heat radiating element in said heating chamber, a fluid fuel burner in said element, an inner casing for said element, said inner casing being open at its top and bottom and being spaced from said element and from said outer jacket, a horizontal partition connecting the inner casing to the outer jacket and forming an air inlet chamber independent of said first-named air inlet chamber, said heating element having an air inlet communicating with said second-named air inlet chamber to receive air for combustion, and fan means in said first-named air inlet chamber discharging through said aperture into said heating chamber to supply air to be heated by contact with said heating element.

MAX M. SUPPES. 

